APPENDIX 1

Dear Mr Greenway

Root out Ragwort Campaign

I understand that you have agreed to sponsor the above campaign and will present a Private Members Bill in March.

Hampshire is a largely rural county and the problems associated with Ragwort are uppermost in our minds, particularly in areas like the New Forest where large numbers of animals graze. I believe communities at large have a responsibility for identifying and taking ownership of such problems. Hampshire County Council has always taken the issue seriously and will continue to do all it reasonably can to control the weed, but we have to set this in the context of limited resources balanced with the need to deal with many competing priorities - the correct balance needs to be struck.

We are able to be flexible in our approach and will adjust the timing of our response to suit growing conditions which, you will be aware, do change from year to year. However, the County Council will never control Ragwort by itself and will need to continue to work in partnership with local communities, landowners, DEFRA and others. The County Council's main area of activity in terms of the control of Ragwort is highways. Generally roadside verges are narrow stretches of land adjoining much larger expanses. We will continue to take appropriate action to deal with Ragwort growing within the confines of the highway but the effectiveness of such treatment is reduced considerably where adjacent land is left untreated.

I believe Parish Councils could, and sometimes do, carry out an important role, if only to report problems to landowners and other relevant parties. There are examples in Hampshire where Parish Councils organise volunteers to pull and dispose of the weed. I am sure you will agree that this type of approach is commendable.

I fully support your endeavours to raise the profile of this important issue and suggest that more could be done by local communities, perhaps by way of `working parties' or via those undertaking community service. We have raised the latter suggestion with the local Probation Service and I am pleased to say they have been very supportive.

I hope the above will provide helpful background information for your campaign.

Yours sincerely

Keith B Estlin

Executive Member for Environment

Copy to: Director of Environment

Colonel Peter Sweet

Ted Johnson, Chairman, New Forest Committee

Bcc: Bryan Boult

Richard Chinn

news release